Write Your Own Review

* Australia (including Tasmania) is roughly the size of the contiguous United States of America.
* The lungfish, a creature in existence since the Triassic period, can be found in the rivers of Australia.
* The largest cattle station in the world is found in southern Australia: Anna Creek Station. The cattle station is 21,126 square miles (larger than the country of Switzerland).
* The world's first society of cartoonists, the Black and White Artists' Society, was formed in Sydney in 1924.
* Australia Day, January 26th, is the historic anniversary of ships arriving at Sydney harbor with boatloads of convicts. Nowadays Australia Day is considered a national holiday in celebration of the diversity of the nation.
* It is estimated that 22% of living Australians have a convict ancestor. The convicts transported to Australia from England were punished for minor crimes such as starting a union, stealing fish/game, buying stolen goods, general petty theft. Interestingly Australia's first police force was comprised of the most well-behaved convicts.
* During a chapel service in 1832 it is said that 300 female convicts at the Cascade Female Factory mooned the Governor of Tasmania. It is said that "the ladies in the Governor's party could not control their laughter."
* Australia is the flattest, driest inhabited continent in the world. Nearly 75% of the land cannot support agriculture in any form.
The platypus and echidna, members of the special class of mammals known as monotremes, are found in Australia. These incredible creatures lay eggs yet suckle their young. The male platypus has a poisonous spine which can inflict tremendous pain to humans and could kill an animal the size of a dog.
* Scientists discovered the 42,000 year old "Mungo Man"and "Mungo Lady" in 1974 near Willandra Lakes, Australia. These homo sapiens are the oldest remains found outside of the continent of Africa. Mungo Man was ritually buried alongside Mungo Lady's cremated remains.
* Cricket player Jeff Thomson of New South Wales, AU, holds the world record for fastest bowler. In 1976 he was timed at a speed of 99 miles an hour.
* The island state of Tasmania is one of the world's largest suppliers of opiate products. Strict controls are held over areas of opium poppy cultivation.
* Australian's mysterious ape-like creatures, Yowies, have been sighted over the years. They are said to resemble the N. American "Bigfoot" yet emit a vile odor.
* Australia is passionate about gambling. With less than 1% of the world's population living in Australia, the country contains more than 20% of the world's slot machines.
* It is said that Canberra was chosen as the nation's capital due to the unresolved competition of Sydney and Melbourne for capital city. Canberra, as a city, was established in 1911 for the purpose of being the nation's capital. The city was planned/designed by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffin in the 1910s. The city sits nearly half-way between Melbourne and Sydney.
* There are currently thousands of feral camels in the Australian outback. In the 1800s camels were introduced to Australia and over the years camels have become a pest species taking over the outback. The government launched a Feral Camel Management Project which concluded in 2013. Its aim was to reduce the numbers of this pest species significantly (the camel population had reached over 1million).
* Tasmania has some of the world's cleanest air. The annual level of particle pollutants in the air is on par with the continent of Antarctica.
* Australia is the only continent in the world without an active volcano.
* Brisbane, AU, hosts the world championship cockroach racing event each year on Australia Day.
* Australia is home to the lyrebird. This amazing mimic can make the calls of over 20 other bird species, imitate the sounds of a chainsaw, car alarm, cell phone ringtone, and camera.